Newcastle United boast two outstanding young midfielders in Lewis Miley and Sean Steur. However, former Liverpool and Germany legend Didi Hamann has warned they will need senior guidance when the going gets tough.
The pair represents the new look and youthful direction of Newcastle’s squad under head coach Matthias Jaissle. But with the club floundering for consistency this season, Hamann believes their development must be carefully managed.
“Smart Players” With Bright Futures
Hamann, who knows exactly what it takes to play central midfield in the Premier League. He told Betpack he has been really impressed by Lewis Miley and Sean Steur. He has described them as smart players who read the game well and pass the ball well.
Miley is already a proven talent, having made his senior debut for Newcastle in 2023 and amassed over 100 career games. Showing impressive maturity for his age. He forced his way into the first team during the 2023-24 campaign after injuries.
Steur joined the Magpies from Ajax in the summer of 2026 for a fee in the region of £23 million on a five-year deal. The 18-year-old had been a standout prospect at his former club. He graduated from their famed academy, which produced Johan Cruyff and Christian Eriksen. He has selected the number 14 jersey to represent his new club, stating that it was his idol, Cruyff, who wore it at Ajax.
While both have undeniable talent, Hamann warned that youth alone cannot get you through in the midfield. He explained that young players need to be guided when things are not going the team’s way. He added that it is easy to look bad when you lose, just like it is easy to look good when you win comfortably.
The German believes that the defensive qualities of Newcastle can help them grow, saying that having very good defenders behind you creates a safety net. He also pointed out the passionate support that Newcastle has. He said that as long as the players give everything for the shirt, then the Toon Army will back them.
Competition for Places
Both players have to fight it out for places. The options in the middle for Jaissle are Nico González, Joelinton, Joe Willock and Jacob Ramsey. Joelinton returned from injury as a sub against Coventry, while González came in for Steur in the first place.
Hamann is confident that both will have long-term futures at the club, though. “I think both Lewis and Sean will be brilliant once Newcastle finds some consistency on the pitch,” he concluded.
Jaissle’s Proven Pedigree
The German coach who has come in to strengthen the youth setup at Newcastle has an impressive record. Jaissle guided RB Salzburg to the Austrian Bundesliga title in both 2021-22 and 2022-23, as well as the Austrian Cup in his first season in charge.
He subsequently moved to Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ahli, where he surpassed his earlier achievement by winning the AFC Champions League Elite for two consecutive seasons, 2024-25 and 2025-26, finishing as the second manager in history to win the continental trophy twice with Saudi clubs.
Hamann is confident Jaissle will thrive on Tyneside. He was not surprised by the appointment. It made perfect sense for Newcastle, he said. Jaissle is a very good manager and a proven winner. Sometimes it takes time, and the fans should not worry.
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